January 07, 2019

Harlem Lead Hazards, Media, and Sherwin-Williams, et al.

The powers-that-be in New York City aren't providing many details.

The little that is known is that lead is present in the Harlem Armory on W. 143rd Street (Harlem). The city is paying a New Jersey firm $2.2 million for remediation, that is, making the lead no longer a hazard. Weekly, Children's Zone had been conducting programs for 1,000 children.

However, there has been no information about the source of the lead. So, at this time, it can't be assumed the hazard is from lead paint. The next building for remediation is the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue. Here are more details from the New York Post.

However, this development in NYC brings lead in buildings high-profile again. Since the story involves children many other media outlets could run with the news.

That could have governmental units and plaintiff lawyers consider filing lawsuits against corporations such as Sherwin-Williams which had manufactured and/or marketed lead paint.

After Sherwin-William lost in lead paint class action public nuisance lawsuit in California ("Santa Clara, et al. v. ARCO), similar public nuisance litigation has kicked off in counties in Pennsylvania. Here is the article I published in Odwyerpr on public nuisance.

If Sherwin-Williams loses or settles, it will have to, at the very least, pay for remediation. That's an expensive process. In addition, there are the legal expenses. Sherwin-Williams has been using BigLaw firm Jones Day to defend it in the lead paint class action lawsuits.

The possibility of a large number of lawsuits could spook investors. The stock could take a hit. Of course, Brand Sherwin-Williams could also be tarnished.

Sherwin-Williams is a juicy target because it is perceived as a deep pocket. Public nuisance gets leveraged against large corporations.